The activities of Dalhousie University in connection with the Great War may be considered under the following headings, (1) The Activities of the C.O.T.C.; (2) The Dalhousie University Stationary Hospital No. 7, C.E.F.; (3) Activities of the Staff; (4) Independent Undergraduate Enlistment.
The Officers’ Training Corps.—Great Britain was forced to declare war on Germany on August 4, 1914; so that when the University session of 1914 opened, it was under war conditions. The earliest corporate war effort of Dalhousie University was a mass meeting in the Law Library, held on October 16, 1914, for the purpose of taking steps to form an O.T.C. The chair was taken by Earle C. Phinney, at that time President of the Council of Students. The meeting, which was most enthusiastic, was addressed by President Mackenzie, G. S. Campbell, Chairman of the Board of Governors, and by Major W. E. Thompson, Secretary of the Board. It was ultimately agreed to ask Major Thompson to organize an O.T.C.; and all those willing to co-operate were invited to sign the roll. Ninety-two names were given in at once on the conclusion of the meeting; of these, five were whole-time Professors. Drill began at once in the South End Rink, Sergeant-Major Graham of the Permanent Staff being instructor.
Some of the original officers were:
Major W. E. Thompson, O.C.
Capt. D. Fraser Harris, Adjutant.
Capt. Murray MacNeill.
Capt. D. A. MacRae.
Capt. George Henderson.
Capt. A. W. Cogswell.
Each was in command of a Platoon.